A Derbyshire GP says that battling for survival as a contestant on the new series of The Island with Bear Grylls is the hardest thing he's ever done.

James Gill, of Belper, is one of 16 Islanders taking part in the television show, which pulls in contestants from a wide variety of social backgrounds and forces them to work together to survive on a deserted island in the wilderness.

The new series starts on Channel Four on Monday, April 2, when viewers will see James risking life and limb to battle against the elements during his month-long stint on the island.

The 33-year-old said: “On the island, you’re stripped of all the things you use to define yourself at home.

James Gill, 33, is set to appear in Monday's show. (Image: Channel 4)

“You can’t hide who you are, from other people or yourself, and finding who I was underneath all the distractions was a mild shock.

“The hardest thing for me to cope with was probably the rain. It was utterly horrific.